The Very Revd. Dr William Smith (1711–1787) was Dean of

Chester Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...

and a Greek and Latin scholar. Smith was born in

Worcester Worcester may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England ** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament * Worcester Park, London, Engla ...

in 1711, the son of the rector of St Nicholas' Church. He was sent to

RGS Worcester The Royal Grammar School Worcester (also known as RGS Worcester or RGSW) is an eleven-eighteen mixed, independent day school and sixth form in Worcester, Worcestershire, England. Founded before 1291, it is one of the oldest British independent d ...

after which he proceeded to

New College, Oxford New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham in conjunction with Winchester College as its feeder school, New College is one of the oldest colleges at th ...

in 1728. He was made Rector of Holy Trinity, Chester in 1735. He became headmaster of Brentwood School, Essex, in 1748, before leaving in 1753 to become vicar of St George's, Liverpool. He became Dean of

Chester Cathedral Chester Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral and the mother church of the Diocese of Chester. It is located in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. The cathedral, formerly the abbey church of a Benedictine monastery dedicated to Sain ...

in 1758. He remained in this post until his death in 1787. He resigned St George's in 1767, and Holy Trinity in 1780, but he was rector of Handley from 1766 to 1787, and of West Kirby from 1780 to 1787. Amongst his greatest achievements was the translation of

Thucydides Thucydides (; grc, , }; BC) was an Athenian historian and general. His ''History of the Peloponnesian War'' recounts the fifth-century BC war between Sparta and Athens until the year 411 BC. Thucydides has been dubbed the father of "scientifi ...

' ''

History of the Peloponnesian War The ''History of the Peloponnesian War'' is a historical account of the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC), which was fought between the Peloponnesian League (led by Sparta) and the Delian League (led by Athens). It was written by Thucydides, an ...

'' and some of his other works as well as the works of

Xenophon Xenophon of Athens (; grc, wikt:Ξενοφῶν, Ξενοφῶν ; – probably 355 or 354 BC) was a Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian, born in Athens. At the age of 30, Xenophon was elected commander of one of the biggest Anci ...

including ''A History of Greece''. He is buried in

with a monument by

Thomas Banks Thomas Banks (29 December 1735 – 2 February 1805) was an important 18th-century English sculptor. Life The son of William Banks, a Surveyor (surveying), surveyor who was land steward to the Duke of Beaufort, he was born in London. He was e ...

.Dictionary of British Sculptors, 1660–1851, Rupert Gunnis

References

External links

Dictionary of National Biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, William Smith, William (scholar) Smith, William (scholar) Smith, William (scholar) Smith, William (scholar) Smith, William (scholar) 18th-century English Anglican priests Deans of Chester English translators Greek–English translators 18th-century British translators Heads of schools in England